Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 6: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will formally contact the Israeli Government and request the free and safe passage of the forthcoming international peace flotilla, in which an Irish ship is participating, bound for Gaza with much needed aid and international solidarity for its beleaguered population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Ireland's long-standing concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza is well known. The slight relaxation in the blockade in the past year has been completely insufficient. We recognise that Israel is entitled to prevent the transport of weapons and genuinely military materials into Gaza, and to check cargoes in this context, but other goods should not be impeded. Along with our EU partners, we continue to press for a full opening up of the border crossings into Gaza to allow unimpeded flows of humanitarian aid, and normal commercial and human traffic.

We will continue to press the Israeli Government to do all possible to facilitate those wishing to transport humanitarian goods to Gaza, and in particular to avoid any repetition of the unacceptable use of force against last year's flotilla. I recognise the essentially humanitarian motivations which gave rise to last year's Gaza flotilla, and also to the further flotilla now being planned. However, my Department's essential advice remains that people should not attempt to sail to Gaza, and certainly should not attempt to break through a naval blockade of the kind which Israel has imposed on Gaza. I am deeply concerned that there is real potential for a similar disastrous outcome this year. I cannot support a project which would involve Irish citizens engaging in actions which could lead them into danger. The United Nations Secretary General ban has also called on Governments to discourage such flotillas, which clearly have the potential to escalate into violence.

Finally, the port of Gaza can never handle more than a fraction of the territory's needs, so the only real solution is the full opening of the land crossing points. I repeat the EU's call on Israel to do that, so that there would be no need for actions such as the planned flotilla.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Minister is aware that nine activists were brutally killed in last year's flotilla by the Israeli forces in an attack that was rightly condemned by the House in an all-party motion. It condemned the Israeli assault on the first peace flotilla and, rightly, described the blockade of Gaza by Israel as an illegal act, yet the blockade continues and continues to visit appalling suffering on the people of Gaza.

The refusal of the Israeli authorities to allow water treatment plants and sewerage treatment plants to be constructed means that 80 million litres of sewage is being pumped into the Mediterranean Sea on a daily basis. A total of 85% of the waters around Gaza which belong to the people of Gaza are restricted and Palestinians trying to enter those waters are shot at regularly, as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the destruction of the infrastructure in that territory as a result of the previous Israeli attack.

The reason I remind the House of those facts is because it is in that context that one must ask what is changing to make the situation better. The Tánaiste and this House said it is an illegal blockade, that we want it to end, that the suffering should end, that the attack on the previous flotilla should not have happened and should not be repeated. However, nothing happens. Israel is not sanctioned and its behaviour does not change. In that context is it not right and justified that people of good conscience from dozens of countries across the world would try to breach that blockade to bring aid and solidarity to the people of Gaza because it is an illegal blockade and they need that assistance?

I know the Tánaiste is not doing it for the same reasons but in calling on people not to go, he is echoing what Israel is now calling for in saying it does not want the flotilla to travel. I call on the Tánaiste to insist that the Israeli authorities allow the flotilla through the illegal blockade.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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What we and our colleagues in the European Union are insisting on is that the blockade on Gaza be lifted. It is both the Irish Government's and the European Union's view that the blockade of Gaza is unacceptable and counter productive and we have repeatedly called for the unconditional opening of the crossing points to normal movement. Indeed, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union has stated that in conclusions to its meetings. That view is communicated by our Government, by EU representatives and other member state Ministers to Israel at every opportunity. On the ground, the European Union is engaged with the Palestinian Authority in plans to increase both the physical and administrative capacity on the Palestinian side of the crossing points into Gaza.

I understand entirely the motivation of those who participated in last year's flotilla and I understand the motivation and genuine intent of those who intend to participate in the flotilla this year. However, my Department has a responsibility to provide advice to people who intend to travel, whether by flotilla or however, and that advice must express to people whether we consider there are dangers associated with that travel. We are very clear that this flotilla poses a danger to those travelling on it and we are discouraging people from doing that. In doing that, we echo the view that has been expressed by the UN Secretary General.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The organisers of the Irish ship to Gaza, the Irish leg of the flotilla, contacted the Minister's office a number of weeks ago and sought a meeting to discuss the departing Irish part of the flotilla, but they have received no response. Will the Minister meet the organisers of the Irish ship to Gaza to discuss their trip? Also, when will sanctions be imposed? When will the call for sanctions against Israel for its refusal to lift the blockade be applied? Israel will not change its behaviour or lift its illegal blockade unless Europe - starting with some states in Europe - stand up and say that sanctions must be applied against a state that is flouting international law and human rights.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I will repeat the travel advice the Department has issued in respect of Gaza. The advice states clearly that we advise against all travel to the Gaza Strip, including the waters off Gaza and goes on to explain the reasons for that.

I wish to be very clear that I do not want anything I say to convey in any way the view or impression that the State lends its support to this flotilla. We understand why it is taking place and the motivation of the people involved in it, but we must be very clear on where we stand with regard to support for it. It is not supported by the State and cannot be supported by it.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Will the Minister meet the representatives of the organisers?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I can, perhaps, arrange for officials of my Department to meet them. With regard what the European Union is doing about Israel, it is clear the blockade on Gaza should be lifted. We must get moving on the talks between Israel and Palestine, which have been stalled for a long period. I was encouraged by what President Obama said in his speech a few days before his arrival in Ireland. When the Taoiseach and I met President Obama, this was one of the issues we discussed with him. We discussed the necessity for both the United States and the European Union to use our good offices to get talks started again and to try and get a settlement to what has been a long, difficult dispute which has caused so much grief. Gaza is very much a central part of that.